According to UNICEF statistics for June 2003, 38 per cent of Palestinian mothers reported increased difficulties in gaining access to health services and 65 per cent reported that the quality of their food had deteriorated.31 A sharp increase was observed in the number of births in ambulances or at home, causing distress and complications to mothers.32 According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, delays at checkpoints had resulted in 46 women delivering their babies while waiting for permission to pass through, and as a result, 24 women and 27 newborn babies had died.33 The incidence of psychosocial trauma continued to climb, and it was also reported that 43 per cent of Palestinian women had requested psychosocial support.34
Según el Ministerio de Salud de Palestina, debido a las demoras en los puestos de control, 46 mujeres habían dado a luz mientras esperaban el permiso para pasar, lo que había provocado la muerte de 24 mujeres y 27 recién nacidos. Seguía aumentando la incidencia del trauma psicosocial, y también se informaba de que el 43% de las mujeres palestinas habían solicitado apoyo psicosocial.